BY D. H. CAMPBELL. 
75 
prothallium is the older phase, and represents the ancestral 
plant from which later the non-sexual sporophyte was de¬ 
veloped. A careful study of the prothallium is therefore 
of the greatest importance in determining the relationships 
of the different groups of ferns among themselves and to 
other plants. 
In Borneo, as in all other countries, the great majority 
of the ferns belong to a single family, the Polypodiacese, 
whose prothallia have been very completely studied, and 
whose life-history is well known. 
There are, however, a number of other ferns whose 
prothallia are much less known, and material of which 
might be of real scientific value. Of the Bornean ferns 
whose prothallia are quite unknown may be mentioned the 
two species of Matonia — M. pectinata, and M. sarmentosa . 
The genus Matonia comprises but two species: M. pecti¬ 
nata is a handsome fern with large fan-shaped fronds 
borne on long stalks, sometimes 6 ft. or more in height. 
It was originally found on Mount Ophir in Malacca, but 
has since been collected in several other localities. In 
Sarawak it is known from near the summits of Matang 
and Santubong. 
M. sarmentosa is known only from Sarawak, where it is 
found in the limestone caves of Niah, Bidi and Bau. Its 
slender pendent fronds are very unlike those of M. 
pectinata. 
These two ferns are the only living representatives of 
the family Matoniacese, of which there are a number 
of fossil species, especially from the early secondary 
formations. It is very desirable that the prothallia 
should be found, as they would probably help to determine 
the relationship of the Matoniaceae to other living ferns. 
The peculiar genus Scliizcea , one of which the writer 
found with prothallia on Mount Matang, also is in¬ 
completely known. Scliizcea malaccana is a small fern 
with slender grass-like sterile leaves, the fertile ones being 
similar, but tipped by a cluster of small spore-bearing 
leaflets. This plant was abundant near the top of Matang, 
growing on steep, wet banks. The form of the peculiar 
alga-like prothallium is due probably to its almost aquatic 
habit. The prothallium of the related genus Lygodium 
(the common climbing ferns) is much like that of the 
ordinary ferns. 
One of the most important families of ferns is that of 
the Marattiacese, represented in Sarawak by four genera, 
